Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Here's the Deal with The Pope's Plenary Indulgence

The Vatican’s original document offered an indulgence for those who complete a pilgrimage.

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But there’s more: the Vatican document noted that the faithful at World Youth Day must be “truly repentant and contrite.” In other words, they must undertake the pilgrimage in a true spirit of repentance. Be sorry for their sins. That’s common, too.

At the end of the document, the Vatican noted that it was not just pilgrims to whom this applied, but another, newer, group: those who might participate “with due devotion, via the new means of social communication.”

Why did the Vatican include that category? As I see it, to be inclusive, something people often accuse the church of not being.

For those who cannot travel to Brazil, because of financial limitations or health restrictions, it's a way of welcoming them.

To my mind, it’s a generous way of inviting people into the Masses, prayers and liturgies during the World Youth Day. Why wouldn’t you want to include the sick, the poor and the elderly in the community of pilgrims? And why wouldn’t you want to help them participate via the web?

So no, you're not getting out of purgatory by retweeting the Pope, it's not that easy. You have to follow World Youth Day online.

Never trust the Mainstream media when it comes to the Catholic Faith. Ever.